THE PRINCE CAN "MOONWALK" AFTER ALL
(INSIDEBOXING.com) Prince Naseem Hamed was urged today to step up and prove his greatness by boxing current super-featherweight knockout sensation Brazilian Acelino Freitas. None other than fellow countryman, WBO super-middleweight champ, Joe Calzaghe, issued this challenge.
Hamed has said on numerous occasions that he will remain a featherweight and is not interested in moving either up or down in weight class. But the continued challenge from Freitas, as well as the boxing community expressing serious concern about the true ability of the Prince, seem to make this bout a necessity for Hamed to continue his claim to be the best in the world. Hamed currently holds no world title but remains an enormous draw even though he has fought no one of interest.
Hamed has reason to be wary of the talented Freitas. Having knocked out all 27 of his opponents, Freitas has yet to go 12 rounds. In his diligence to entice Hamed to fight him Freitas went to Doncaster, England in January (which is just a short distance from Hamed’s hometown) to fight former champ Barry Jones. Freitas destroyed Jones in 8 rounds.
"To prove he’s great he has to step up to super-featherweight and fight Acelino Freitas," said Calzaghe. He’s gone backward. He went down twice in his last fight against a novice and he’s lost the plot. As a boxer and in terms of his defense, nothing has improved," he added.
Seems as if the Prince has allowed himself to be criticized by all in the boxing community. Now is the time to either put up or shut up.